Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), holds talks with Nuriddinjon Ismailov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING -- Top legislator Li Zhanshu held talks with Nuriddinjon Ismailov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly, here on Tuesday.

Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 26 years ago, the relations between the two countries have forged ahead on a fast track.

He said the two countries had become good neighbors, good friends and good cooperative partners, with enhanced bilateral political mutual trust, economic and trade cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and strategic coordination.

China is willing to cooperate closely with Uzbekistan to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, with the major focus on the joint building of the Belt and Road, Li said, citing Uzbekistan as one of the earliest countries to support the Belt and Road Initiative proposed five years ago and also one of the earliest countries to score progress in this regard.

He said China attached great importance to its friendly cooperation with Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly, and would further strengthen bilateral exchanges.

Ismailov said that Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly looks forward to more exchanges and cooperation with the National People's Congress of China, expressing the will to learn from China's experience in promoting reform and development, and in strengthening the rule of law.

On Tuesday, Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Wang Chen, vice chairperson of the NPC Standing Committee, also met with Ismailov respectively.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), holds talks with Nuriddinjon Ismailov, speaker of the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan's Supreme Assembly, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)